STARS air ambulance

What STARS air ambulance does

STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service) is a Canadian charitable non-profit founded in 1985 and headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, that provides physician-supervised air medical transport and critical care to critically ill and injured patients across Western Canada. The organization operates six bases (Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg) serving Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and parts of southeastern British Columbia, using a fleet of Airbus H145 helicopters configured as mobile intensive care units, complemented by fixed-wing aircraft (in Manitoba, via Shared Health) and ground ambulance services. Mission coordination is centralized through the 24/7 STARS Emergency Link Centre (ELC), which dispatches helicopters, monitors in-flight assets, coordinates landing zones, and supports STARS Virtual Care consultations using the GoodSAM web-based video platform to link bedside providers with transport physicians.

The organization's technology stack combines aviation assets (H145 helicopters, ~10-minute airborne readiness), clinical capabilities (onboard ultrasound, blood products, advanced airway management, transport-physician oversight on every mission), and communications infrastructure (ELC, GoodSAM video, GIS-based mapping). Supporting services include the STARS Vigilant industrial safety unit (site registration, work-alone monitoring, 24/7 emergency communications centre for remote workers — 733 enterprise customers across 4,000+ monitored worksites) and a substantial education portfolio (Werklund STARS Academy, Critical Care Paramedic Program, PTMALP, DIPRA, Community Education, Landing Zone Training, Research, medical resident electives).

Revenue is sourced from provincial government contracts (Alberta, Saskatchewan — including a renewed 10-year Saskatchewan agreement — and Manitoba via Shared Health), individual and corporate donations (Allies for Life tiers at $6,000–$10,000; flagship gifts such as Mosaic $2.5M, Birchcliff Energy $1.5M, AltaLink $1.2M for the fleet renewal campaign), the multi-province STARS Lottery, STARS Vigilant fee-for-service industrial contracts, calendar/merchandise sales, and legacy/bequest giving. Patients are not charged for emergency transport; the operating model is sustained by a hybrid of government service agreements, philanthropy, and commercial industrial services. CAMTS accreditation and 66,000+ cumulative missions since 1985 (~3,513 in fiscal 2025–2026, ~10 per day average) anchor the operating record.

Name

STARS air ambulance

Legal name

Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service

Website

https://stars.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service) is a Calgary-based Canadian non-profit founded in 1985 that provides physician-supervised helicopter, fixed-wing, and ground critical-care transport across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and parts of BC, coordinated through a 24/7 Emergency Link Centre and six operational bases.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Air Ambulance Services

NAICS

Ambulance Services (621910), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Air Medical Transport (Helicopter/Fixed-Wing) (HLAFANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Medical Assistance & Field Care (DMAT/Field Hospitals) (HLAJAGAE), Search & Rescue (Urban/Water/Wilderness) Coordination (HLAJAGAJ)

Keywords

• Air ambulance services
• Emergency medical transport
• Critical care transport
• Helicopter EMS
• Pre-hospital care

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: STARS relies heavily on donations from individuals, corporations, and community fundraisers including signature events, community events, cause-related marketing campaigns, workplace giving programs, legacy/bequest giving, and gift of securities. Major corporate donors include AltaLink ($1.2M), Birchcliff Energy ($1.5M), and Mosaic ($2.5M).
2. Government Contracts: Provincial governments (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) contract STARS for air ambulance services. Saskatchewan Ministry of Health renewed the contract for 10 years at existing service levels. Manitoba contract with Shared Health provides critical care on fixed-wing aircraft (approx. 500 missions per year).
3. STARS Lottery: STARS operates lottery programs in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Lotteries offer chances to win prizes (e.g., 2,500 prizes valued at over $4.8M for the 2022 lottery) and are a significant fundraising mechanism.
4. STARS Vigilant (Industry Services): Fee-for-service monitoring and emergency response solutions sold to industrial clients. Services include Site Registration (dynamic emergency response coordination), Work Alone Monitoring (24/7 worker safety monitoring), and Emergency Communications Centre services. Contracts with companies like AltaGas, Baytex Energy, and Volker Stevin.
5. Merchandise and Calendar Sales: STARS sells calendars, merchandise, and other branded items through the STARS Shop and calendar program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service) is a nonprofit charitable organization providing physician-supervised emergency medical transport for critically ill and injured patients across Western Canada. Its portfolio includes helicopter (Airbus H145), fixed-wing, and ground ambulance transport coordinated through a 24/7 Emergency Link Centre, supplemented by STARS Virtual Care video consultations and STARS Vigilant industrial safety services.

Product overview

STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service) is a non-profit air ambulance organization providing critical care anywhere in Western Canada through a multi-modal portfolio of services. The core offering centers on medical transport via helicopter (Airbus H145), fixed-wing aircraft, and ground ambulance, coordinated through the 24/7 STARS Emergency Link Centre. Supporting services include STARS Virtual Care (video consultation platform using GoodSAM), comprehensive education programs (Werklund STARS Academy, Critical Care Paramedic Program, PTMALP, DIPRA, Electives, Landing Zone Training, Community Education, and Research), and industry safety services under STARS Vigilant brand (Site Registration, Work Alone Monitoring, Emergency Communications Centre). Fundraising products include STARS Lottery and Calendar. The organization operates from six bases (Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg) serving Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, with a fleet renewal campaign (Keep the Fight in Flight) replacing aging aircraft with new H145 helicopters. Partnerships with University of Calgary, Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, and Shared Health Manitoba support specific service lines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STARS Vigilant: Proactive emergency response solution providing monitoring and immediate response for industrial clients, including site registration, work-alone monitoring, and emergency communications centre services.
• STARS Emergency Link Centre
• Werklund STARS Academy
• STARS Lottery
• STARS Virtual Care
• STARS Calendar

Products and services

• Helicopter Medical Transport Air ambulance helicopter service using Airbus H145 helicopters with custom medical interiors serving as mobile intensive care units, crewed by pilots, paramedics, and nurses with transport physician oversight, providing critical care and rapid transport to major trauma centres across Western Canada.
• Fixed-Wing Aircraft Medical Transport Critical care transport via fixed-wing (airplane) air ambulances for patients requiring advanced critical care over longer distances; STARS provides medical crew while third-party operators provide aircraft. Approximately 500 critical care missions per year in Manitoba alone under contract with Shared Health.
• Ground Ambulance Medical Transport Ground ambulance transport service where STARS expert medical crews travel with patients from scene calls or rural health facilities, providing life-saving critical care en route to major trauma centres.
• STARS Emergency Link Centre (ELC) A 24/7 emergency medical communications centre that acts as a critical care logistics hub, managing helicopter deployment requests, monitoring helicopter locations during missions, coordinating patient transport and care, facilitating virtual medical consultations, and dispatching search and rescue agencies.
• STARS Virtual Care Live video consultation service for critical care patients using the GoodSAM web platform; connects STARS transport physicians and air medical crews with pre-hospital providers, rural physicians, and specialist consultants via secure video links transmitted through any mobile device.
• STARS Vigilant - Site Registration Proactive emergency response solution providing industrial clients with immediate access to dynamic emergency response, physician-led medical consultation, and coordination for worksite incidents.
• STARS Vigilant - Work Alone Monitoring 24/7 live monitoring and support for industrial teams working alone, keeping workers safe, connected, and accounted for regardless of location.
• STARS Vigilant - Emergency Communications Centre 24/7 emergency response activation and safety assurance services for industrial clients, featuring GIS mapping and coordination capabilities.
• Werklund STARS Academy A 21-week certificate course in critical care transport medicine offered through partnership with the University of Calgary's Continuing Medical Education Department, using a blended model with 17-week online component, 4-week on-site experience, and flight practicums at STARS bases.
• Critical Care Paramedic Program A 15-week comprehensive program designed in collaboration with the University of Calgary's CME Department, with 11-week online component, 4-week in-person training, and 12 flight practicum shifts; participants can apply for the Critical Care Paramedic title with the Alberta College of Paramedics.
• Landing Zone Training Training program for emergency and medical personnel covering how to access STARS, landing zone preparation and helicopter safety, and preparing patients for air medical transport; designed for paramedics, EMTs, doctors, nurses, fire departments, police, RCMP, park rangers, and industry field workers.
• Community Education Program Specialized critical care education for allied healthcare professionals through immersive in situ simulation training and focused specialty courses including mechanical ventilation, airway management, trauma care, and circulation/shock management, using iSimulate systems, high- and low-fidelity mannequins, and task trainers.
• STARS Research Program Research partnerships with local, national, and international researchers to identify and define best practices for pre-hospital critical care, supported by the STARS Research Committee chaired by Dr. Doug Martin.
• STARS Lottery Lottery fundraising program offering chances to win prizes while supporting STARS operations; available in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba with various prize categories (e.g., 2,500 prizes valued at over $4.8M for the 2022 lottery).
• STARS Calendar Annual calendar sale featuring patient stories and commissioned artwork, sold to raise funds for STARS operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,513 missions in 2025–2026 fiscal year
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• Saskatchewan Blue CrosssupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 7 April 2026Saskatchewan Blue Cross served as digital media sponsor for the STARS Critical Care on the Air Radiothon, a two-day fundraising event broadcasting on over 30 radio stations across Saskatchewan (April 7–8, 2026). The radiothon aimed to raise $525,000. Blue Cross team members volunteered in Regina and Saskatoon to answer phones and support donation efforts.
• WBM TechnologiessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerWBM Technologies is the presenting sponsor of the Mission Ready podcast, a raw storytelling series about STARS missions that builds brand awareness and community engagement.
• University of CalgarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTARS partners with the University of Calgary's Continuing Medical Education Department for two major programs: the Werklund STARS Academy (21-week certificate course in critical care transport medicine) and the Critical Care Paramedic Program (15-week program with 11-week online and 4-week in-person components). Both programs are delivered through the university's CME infrastructure.
• RhPAP (Rural Health Professions Action Plan)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTARS partners with RhPAP to deliver the GEMS (General Emergency Medical Skills) program, an online multimedia emergency skills training experience with hands-on simulation for rural physicians to upgrade emergency medicine skills.
• GoodSAMcoreTechnology or IntegrationGoodSAM is the internationally proven video platform used by STARS Emergency Link Centre for Virtual Care consultations. The platform transmits a secure, platform-agnostic web link via SMS or email that turns any mobile device into a webcam for live patient video transmission. Used by BCEHS in Canada and internationally in austere environments.
• Shared Health (Manitoba)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTARS is contracted by Shared Health in Manitoba to provide critical care onboard fixed-wing (airplane) air ambulances. STARS does not own the fixed-wing aircraft; they are operated by a third-party. Approximately 500 critical care missions per year on fixed-wing in Manitoba.
• AltaGassupportingOthersAltaGas uses STARS Vigilant services. Kim Tulloch, Director EHS Midstream, reports that STARS has been extremely supportive in implementing a centralized call centre concept and has been very responsive to unique challenges in their operations.
• Baytex EnergysupportingOthersBaytex Energy uses STARS Vigilant services. The H&S Advisor reports that trained professional operators answering emergency calls have sped up response time through quick, clear communications.
• Volker StevinsupportingOthersVolker Stevin uses STARS Vigilant services. The company maintains 18,500 kms of Alberta highways and credits STARS Vigilant with helping keep roads safe for the travelling public through emergency response support.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ORNGE: Ontario's provincial air ambulance and critical care transport service, operating rotary and fixed-wing missions with transport physicians. Most directly comparable to STARS as a province-anchored helicopter EMS provider serving a large Canadian geography, though STARS is multi-provincial.
• Air Methods Corporation: Largest U.S. air medical transport operator, providing helicopter EMS and interfacility transport with a similar physician/paramedic crew model. Directly comparable as a fee-for-service helicopter EMS provider, though for-profit and U.S.-focused versus STARS' nonprofit Western Canadian model.
• PHI Air Medical: U.S. helicopter air ambulance operator providing scene response and interfacility transport, with services for hospital systems and industrial clients. Closely comparable to STARS in mission profile and mix of medical and industrial safety work.
• Life Flight Network: Nonprofit air medical transport program serving the Pacific Northwest and Western U.S. with helicopter and fixed-wing ambulance services. Closely comparable to STARS in nonprofit structure, mission scope, and Western/Northwest geographic focus.
• REVA Air Ambulance: International fixed-wing air ambulance operator providing long-distance medical repatriation and critical care transport. Comparable to STARS on the fixed-wing critical care mission profile (~500 Manitoba fixed-wing missions per year), though primarily commercial and global in scope.

Broad incumbents

• Global Medical Response: U.S. parent of Air Methods, American Medical Response, and other emergency transport brands; offers integrated ground and air ambulance services nationwide. Comparable as a broad incumbent spanning the same helicopter and ground EMS categories STARS operates in, but at much larger scale and across the U.S.

Regional players

• British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS): Provincial ambulance and dispatch authority in British Columbia, including air ambulance and GoodSAM-based virtual care video platform. Comparable to STARS as a provincial emergency medical transport provider and a GoodSAM partner, though BCEHS is government-run and does not directly compete in STARS' Alberta/Saskatchewan/Manitoba core.
• EHS Nova Scotia LifeFlight: Provincial helicopter and critical care air transport service in Nova Scotia, operated within the provincial health system. Comparable to STARS as a province-anchored helicopter EMS service, though operating in a different Canadian region.

Others

• Shock Trauma Center (University of Maryland): U.S. flagship trauma and critical care hospital whose name and pre-hospital care model inspired STARS' founding. Comparable as a thought leader in critical care transport medicine, but operates a ground-based trauma center rather than a competing air ambulance service.
• GoodSAM: Internationally deployed web-based video platform for live medical consultations and bystander alerting, used by STARS Emergency Link Centre to power STARS Virtual Care. Comparable as STARS' core technology partner for virtual care, rather than a competing air ambulance operator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/STARSambulance
• Facebookfacebook.com/STARSairambulance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stars-air-ambulance

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about STARS air ambulance